DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH Dispensation A dispensation is a period

DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH

Dispensation: • A dispensation is a period of time during which God deals in a particular way with man in respect to sin and man’s responsibility. • Unless a person understands the dispensation he cannot understand the Bible and it becomes a book of confusion. • The word “dispensation” means “administration. ”

Dispensation: • “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me” (I Corinthians 9: 17). • During a dispensation, man is tested to respect of obedience and to some specific revelation of the will of God. • If we consider the tribulation as a separate dispensation there are eight dispensations.

Dispensation of Innocence: • 1. ) Period of Time: The length of time is not known. • It began with the creation of man and ended with the fall of man (Genesis 1: 26 through Genesis 2: 23). • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Man must choose whether he will believe God’s Word or the statements of Satan.

Dispensation of Innocence: • 3. ) Man’s Failure and the Consequences: Man chose to believe Satan rather than Go Judgment came upon mankind, the earth and Satan. • The necessity of the Savior is seen at the promise of a Savior is given

Dispensation of Conscience: • 1. ) Period of Time: This period lasted from the fall of man to the flood— 1656 years (Genesis 3 through 7). • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Man is to choose between doing good and doing evil. • He insists on evil.

Dispensation of Conscience: • 3. )Man’s Failure and Consequences: Man proves to be exceedingly wicked and judgment through the flood comes as a result. • God’s mercy is seen by saving eight people to begin new dispensation.

Dispensation of Human Government: • 1. ) Period of Time: This dispensation lasted from the flood to the confusion of tongues at Babe (427 years). • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Noah was given the responsibility to govern for God.

Dispensation of Human Government: • 3. ) Man’s Failure and Consequences: Noah revealed that man is unable to govern himself and therefore unable to govern others. • The building of the Tower of Babel was an organized political and religious rebellion against God. • The consequence of man’s failure was the confusion of tongues and the dispersion of the people.

Dispensation of Promise: • 1. ) Period of Time: This period lasted from the call of Abraham to the Exodus— 430 years (Genesis 11: 10 through Genesis 15: 21). • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Abraham was to stay in the land that God had given to him, and not to go down to Egypt, a type of the world.

Dispensation of Promise: • 3. ) Man’s Failure and the Consequences: Abram doubts God’s Word and goes down to Egypt for food. • Finally Jacob’s entire house went down to Egypt. • The result was slavery in Egypt, sin and idolatry. • Divine mercy is seen in the deliverance and preservation of Israel.

Dispensation of Law: • 1. )Period of Time: This dispensation lasted from Sinai to Calvary; from the Exodus to the Cross (1491 years). • 2. )Man’s Responsibility: Israel was to keep the law that included the Ten Commandments an all social and civil law. • 3. )Man’s Failure and the Consequences: They failed to keep the law, and they crucified the only one who did keep the law.

Dispensation of Grace • (Holy Ghost and Church Dispensation) • 1. ) Period of Time: From the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church. • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Man is to believe in and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and t obey the Gospel.

Dispensation of Grace • 3. ) Man’s Failure and the Consequences: Man became a lover of himself, of money, of pleasure and a rejecter of Jesus Christ. • The result is that God gives them up to unbelief and eternal judgment.

Dispensation of Judgment of Tribulation: • 1. ) Period of Time: This period will last from the rapture of the church to the millennium. • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Man is to recognize and worship God; he is to refuse to take the mark of the beast. • 3. ) Man’s Failure and the Consequences: Man refuses to repent. • The result is utter destruction and Armageddon.

The Kingdom Dispensation: • 1. ) Period of Time: From the return of Christ to the Great White Throne Judgment (1, 000 years). • 2. ) Man’s Responsibility: Man is to obey God and submit to the King and also to worship Him. • 3. ) Man’s Failure and the Consequences: Man gives feigned obedience but when given a choice he follows Satan. • The result is complete destruction by fire.

Dispensation Ends In A World Crisis: • Innocence—Expulsion of man from the Garden. • Conscience—The flood. • Human Government—Confusion of tongues. Promise—Bondage of the chosen race. • Law—The Cross of Christ. • Grace—The rapture of the Church. • Tribulation—The binding of Satan. • Kingdom—Fire from Heaven.

In Each Dispensation God Comes Down: • Innocence—God came down to the Garden. • Conscience—God talked to Noah. • Human Government—God said, “Let us go down. ” • Promise—“I am come down” (burning bush). • Law—Incarnation of Christ. • Grace—The Lord shall descend. • Tribulation—Coming to earth. Kingdom—Still upon earth.

Dispensational Truth Is Important: • Dispensational truth is very important in rightly dividing the Word of Truth. • One must never take truth that belongs to a past dispensation and apply it to neither the present, nor a truth that belongs to a future dispensation and try to apply it to the present.

Dispensational Truth Is Important: • We shall be content in giving only one example of this: The 144, 000 belong in the Tribulation Dispensation, not in the Church Dispensation.